Plural compartment resealable bag

ABSTRACT

A plural compartment resealable bag for storing multiple discrete items without mixing the same includes a bag base having a closable bag opening and a dividing seam. The bag base is constructed in a similar manner as conventional press-to-seal resealable flexible plastic bags and includes an enclosed interior storage area. The bag opening provides selective access to the interior storage area, while also including a fastening system which allows the interior storage area of the bag base to be closed into a fluid tight enclosure. The dividing seam extends across the bag base from the fastening system to the edge opposite the bag opening, thereby dividing the interior storage area into a first discrete compartment and a second discrete compartment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to storage receptacles and, moreparticularly, to a resealable bag having a plurality of discretecompartments.

Description of the Prior Art

The use and design of conventional resealable storage bags is wellknown. Typical resealable storage bags define single compartment,plastic bags having flexible sides and a single opening which includespress-to-seal zipper strips integral therewith that allows the openingto be selectively opened and sealed closed. A problem which stillexists, however, is that such conventional resealable storage bags areunable to store a plurality of different types of food while keeping thedifferent food types from mixing or otherwise contacting one another.While multi-compartment receptacles do exist, they customarily areavailable only with rigid containers. Thus, there remains a need for aplural compartment resealable bag which would include a fixed, integralbarrier in the storage area of the bag to keep items in variouscompartments from mixing. It would be helpful if such a pluralcompartment resealable bag employed a permanent seam as the integralbarrier positioned between discrete compartments. It would beadditionally desirable for such a plural compartment resealable bag toemploy a unitary fastener system to open and close each compartment.

The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a pluralcompartment resealable bag adapted to allow a user to store differentfood items in separate compartments in a single bag. The primary aspectsof Applicant's plural compartment resealable bag are a bag base with anreclosable bag opening and a dividing seam. When in operation, theplural compartment resealable bag enables more efficient use of astorage bag. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior artstructures are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A plural compartment resealable bag for storing multiple discrete itemswithout mixing the same. The plural compartment resealable bag comprisesa bag base having a closable bag opening and a dividing seam. The bagbase is constructed in a similar manner as conventional press-to-sealresealable flexible plastic bags and includes an enclosed interiorstorage area. The bag opening provides selective access to the interiorstorage area, while also including a fastening system which allows theinterior storage area of the bag base to be closed into a fluid tightenclosure. The dividing seam extends across the bag base from thefastening system to the edge opposite the bag opening, thereby dividingthe interior storage area into a first discrete compartment and a seconddiscrete compartment.

It is an object of this invention to provide a plural compartmentresealable bag which includes a fixed, integral barrier in the storagearea of the bag to keep items in various compartments from mixing.

It is another object of this invention to provide a plural compartmentresealable bag which employs a permanent seam as the integral barrierpositioned between discrete compartments.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a pluralcompartment resealable bag which employs a unitary fastener system toopen and close each compartment.

These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a plural compartment resealable bagbuilt in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a plural compartment resealable bag builtin accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a plural compartment resealable bagbuilt in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1 and 2, a pluralcompartment resealable bag 10 is shown as a bag base 11 having aselectably closable bag opening 12 and a dividing seam 13. The bag base11 is constructed in a similar manner as conventional press-to-sealresealable (or “recloseable”) flexible plastic bags, having an enclosedinterior storage area formed from opposing plastic film sheets whichform opposing side panels and have their edges aligned and attachedtogether. It is contemplated that the bag base 11 may be defined bythree edges of the opposing plastic film sheets permanently attached anda top edge having the bag opening 12 which renders it at least in partselectably closeable. In the preferred embodiment the bag base 11 theclosed edges are heat sealed together.

It is appreciated that the bag base may define a single plastic filmsheets which has been folded such that the three remaining edges (otherthan the fold) are aligned and closed (or are closeable).

It is further appreciated that the bag opening 12 may define the entireedge with which it is integrated, as illustrated in FIG. 1, or less thatthe entire edge with the remaining portion of the edge heat sealedtogether

In the preferred embodiment, the bag opening 12 includes a press-to-sealfastening system which is defined by a corresponding portions of apress-to-seal zipper strip aligned on opposing portions of the bagopening 12, thereby enabling the opposing portions to be placed infrictional contact with one another and sealed together through theapplication of mechanical force. It is appreciated that when the bagopening 12 is sealed by way of the press-to-seal fastening system, theinterior storage area of the bag base 11 defines a fluid tightenclosure. On the other hand, when the bag opening 12 is open, theinterior storage area is enclosed on three sides but accessible throughthe bag opening 12.

Extending across the bag base 11 from press-to-seal fastening system tothe edge opposite the bag opening 12 is the dividing seam 13. In oneembodiment, the dividing seam 13 defines a heat sealed section whichpermanently attaches the opposing side panels which form the bag body 11along the dividing seam 13, thereby dividing the interior storage areainto a first discrete compartment 14 and a second discrete compartment15.

It is contemplated that the each of the first discrete compartment 14and second discrete compartment 15 are accessible through the bagopening 12. Advantageously, the use of a single bag opening 12 (and thussingle press-to-seal fastening system) to provide selective access toeither or both compartments 14, 15 provides enhanced stability acrossthe entirety of the bag base 11 and reduces the risk of failure of theseal of fastening system (having multiple discrete fastening systemsinherently increases the risk of failure of one of them).

Referring now to FIG. 3, in alternate embodiment of a plural compartmentresealable bag 20, a dividing seam 23 includes both an orthogonalportion 23′ adjacent to the fastening system and an angled portion 23″distal to the fastening system. Advantageously, this design(particularly the angled portion 23″) allows for the size of one of thecompartments to be increased without negatively impacting theaccessibility of items in either compartment.

It is contemplated that other embodiments of the plural compartmentresealable bag in accordance with the present invention may include morethan two discrete compartments, all of which are accessible from asingle bag opening.

In some embodiments, the dividing seam includes a reinforcing insertintegral therewith so as to increase the strength of bag body. Such areinforcing insert may define a rigid member or a solid, flexible memberhaving greater strength than the plastic film which defines the bagbody.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what isconsidered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It isrecognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within thescope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to aperson skilled in the art.

1. A plural compartment resealable bag, comprising: a bag base defininga receptacle having opposing side panels fastened together to form anenclosed interior storage area bordered by at least one sealed edges anda top edge; a closeable bag opening integral with the top edge, whereinthe closeable bag opening includes a fastening system which allows thebag opening to be selectively sealed such that the interior storage areadefines a fluid tight enclosure; and a discrete dividing seam integralwith the bag base, wherein said dividing seam is configured to dividethe interior storage area into at least a first discrete compartment anda second discrete compartment, wherein the dividing seam includes atleast an orthogonal portion adjacent to the fastening system and anangled portion distal to the fastening system.
 2. The plural compartmentresealable bag of claim 1, wherein the dividing seam extends from thefastening system, through the interior storage area, and to the at leastone sealed edge such that the closeable bag opening is adjacent to boththe first discrete compartment and second discrete compartment.
 3. Theplural compartment resealable bag of claim 1, wherein the dividing seamdefines a heat sealed section along which the opposing side panels whichform the bag body are permanently attached.
 4. The plural compartmentresealable bag of claim 1, wherein the closeable bag opening defines theentire with the top edge.
 5. (canceled)
 6. The plural compartmentresealable bag of claim 1, wherein the fastening system defines apress-to-seal fastening system.